Role of carbon oxides on gas formation through radiolysis process in nuclear storages

摘要

Plutonium is a very reactive metal that oxidizes veryeasily especially in contact with oxygen and residualmoisture. Thus, although it is generally stored in sealedcontainers under a neutral gas atmosphere, metallicplutonium samples are always covered with an oxide layerthat can be several microns thick. In addition, plutoniumoxide is very hygroscopic. Then, water molecules from theresidual humidity of the container's atmosphere adsorb to itssurface and undergo a radiolysis phenomenon mainly due tothe alpha decay of the plutonium. There is then release ofhydrogen or even oxygen . The accumulation of thesegases gives rise to a risk of degradation of the container . Therefore, safety studies for storages or transports ofplutonium materials must take into account thisphenomenon.